Focus is a hot topic, but there’s more to it then just turning off Twitter and blocking out distractions. Today’s book shows us how to manage our focus, helps us understand how it works, and shows us how to recharge it when it gets low. Author Chris Bailey joins us at the end to talk about writing Hyperfocus, what he learned from the process, and which mechanical keyboard is the best.

Happy people are productive people, but can you really choose to be happy? Things may not always happen for the best, but in today’s episode Mike & Joe figure out how and why some people are able to make the best of the things that happen.

This past week I had a chance to jump on Free Agents with my good friends Mike Schmitz and David Sparks to talk about a pretty big transition I’m working through with my work. It may not be a popular decision I’m making, but it’s definitely the right move and I’m certainly excited about it.

Joe has done something out of character, updating to iOS 12 and Mojave with quickness. Drew asks why, and the two talk about Siri Shortcuts, dark mode, and a third-party app that makes both of their MacBook Pro setups so much sweeter.

As Joe and Drew both grow their respective businesses, their usual task management talk transitions to a similar topic: team management. Drew gives the floor to Joe, who talks about why he manages projects and not people, and how to find the right system.

Up to 40% of our daily actions are influenced by our habits, but how do you actually influence them? In this episode, Joe & Mike dive into The Power of Habit and discover the secret to lasting positive change.

Joe turns this episode into a confessional and makes a vulnerable statement: He’s a phone addict. Drew and Joe discuss our modern tendency to spend too much time on our devices, Joe reveals how he’s dealing with it, and Drew covers the ways that iOS 12 provides some ‘app limits’ of its own. Since iOS 12 gets brought up, so too does the other looming Apple beta: Mojave.

If you listen to Bookworm as a way to filter your book list, then this episode will blow your mind. Joe and Mike pick their top ten books draft-style. They’re not necessarily Bookworm books either. Also included: a special surprise.

Joe talks about his new business venture, ProCourse! This leads to a conversation about the natural evolution from freelancer to business owner, and all of the challenges that come with it: Setting goals (or choosing not to), getting buried in email, adding yet-another-Slack channel, and telling people IRL what you do in the first place.

Joe transcends the typical mailbox and gets a UPS box of his own. This leads to a conversation about home offices, which leads to a conversation about wanting to appear legitimate, which leads to an unexpected conversation about learning how to take on new roles.

Drew has learned from his past mistakes, but is still trying to make everything a bit more optimized. How many times must his desktop overflow before he sets up a file management script or two? Joe shares his own workflows and methods, and the two discuss the ‘work’ that lets you do work more efficiently.